Worldwide Chocolatier

Worldwide Chocolatier Identifies Sweet Cost Savings Through Simple Process Changes.

The Challenge:

This well-known chocolatier with 450 stores sold premium chocolate concoctions including bonbons, truffles, flavored coffee, cocoa mixes, ice cream and liqueurs. Based on their 15% growth year over year, there was a need to increase capacity and extend the life of their existing distribution center.

The Solution:

FORTE's distribution center design team provided a Distribution Assessment to identify improvements with processes, supply chain software utilization, inventory turns, material handling systems capacity and warehouse layout design for space utilization. Once the assessment was complete, it was determined that they needed to make racking configuration changes and modify the mechanical conveyor systems to eliminate bottlenecks. They also needed to move toward dynamic replenishment and begin to employ task interleaving functionality already available in their existing warehouse management system (WMS).

The Result:

60 daysto achieve ROI

The Chocolatier achieved ROI within 60 days of implementing the recommended warehouse design and material handling equipment improvements. They extended the life of their current facility and could now support their 15% year over year growth while maintaining current staffing levels and only utilizing existing assets.

Key Services Employed Strategic Development Supply Chain Network & Inventory Optimization Distribution Center Design & Implementation